Detroit Lions cut Titus Young

Titus Young, the troubled Detroit Lions wide receiver, was a cancer in the locker room who could no longer contribute to the team.

So the Lions made the only move that made sense. On Monday Young was cut by the Lions following a bumpy 2012 season.

Young, 23, only needs to look in the mirror to find the problem.

The future was in his hands and his selfishness and boorish behavior cost him an NFL job. He had two years remaining on his contract. Another team could sign him for cheap if they aren’t scared off by his antics.

It started last May when Young sucker-punched teammate Louis Delmas and was sent home from organized team activities for a week.

In the Nov. 18 home loss to the Green Bay Packers, Young lined up in the wrong spot several times. He was sent home after that too.

How many NFL players get sent home? How many get sent home twice? Titus Young.

He was given more than one chance to return, but blew those opportunities too.

To make matters worse, Young went to Twitter two weeks ago. Not sure if he was trying to earn sympathy, but certainly it did not have that effect.

The first tweet said: ‘Like I said I never been selfish but if I’m not going to get the football I don’t want to play anymore.’

Doesn’t exactly sound like a mature NFL player. Schwartz told reporters at the Senior Bowl on the day following the tweets that they weren’t such a good idea.

Young also tweeted on that same day: “Never have I ran the wrong route, just put myself where the ball was going.’

Young’s teammate Nate Burleson has said Lions wide receivers must accept their roles. He compares Calvin Johnson to Michael Jackson as the star and the rest of them to backup singers.

Today, maybe it’d be Beyonce and Destiny’s Child. It doesn’t mean their roles aren’t important, but obviously more balls will be thrown the way of Calvin Johnson.

The day after the season was complete, Schwartz surprisingly said there was a window open for Young to return.

Apparently the wide receiver slammed it on himself.

Three days after the end of the season Lions general manager Martin Mayhew echoed Schwartz saying there was a path for Young to return. Mayhew’s reasoning at the time was that Young was productive and well-behaved in his rookie season. At least he had that going for him.

Young was a second-round draft pick (44th overall) out of Boise State. He signed a four-year $4.6 million contract.

In two seasons he played in 26 games (with 17 starts) and registered 81 receptions for 990 yards while recording 10 receiving touchdowns.

He got a slow start in 2011, his rookie season, due to injury, but became a force as the season wore on.

Much was expected of him in the 2012 season. He was a total disappointment.